Daily News Summary – 2026-05-26 – en

The Dutch government has formally blocked the acquisition of Solvinity, the cloud company that operates the critical DigiD digital identity system, by American IT giant Kyndryl, citing risks to national security under the WOZT law. The decision follows a thorough investigation by the Bureau Toetsing Investeringen.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the restoration of international internet access, ending one of the longest nationwide internet blackouts in history. The 88-day shutdown cost the economy an estimated $1.8 billion and was imposed during protests and after US-Israeli airstrikes.

Sonny Rollins, the legendary jazz tenor saxophonist whose improvisational genius defined a golden era of jazz, died at his home in Woodstock, New York, at age 95 from pulmonary fibrosis. He recorded more than 60 albums as a leader and was widely hailed as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of all time.

A devastating collision between a passenger train and a school minibus at a level crossing in Buggenhout, Belgium, claimed the lives of four people, including two children aged 12 and 15. The minibus driver turned onto the crossing despite the barrier being down, according to CCTV footage.

A spectacular drone light show at the Vivid Sydney festival turned into a near-disaster when 89 drones suddenly plummeted into Darling Harbour. The UK-based operator SkyMagic attributed the failure to an unforeseen change in the radio frequency environment, and all shows were cancelled pending a safety review.

Lithuanian officials warn that Russia has dramatically expanded its GPS spoofing capabilities from Kaliningrad, now able to falsify signals up to 450 kilometers into European territory, threatening aviation and mobile networks.

Iran partially restored internet access after an 88-day near-total digital blackout, the longest ever recorded. Connectivity began returning on May 26 following an order by President Pezeshkian, though many international websites remain blocked.

Two teenagers in France have confessed to strangling an 11-year-old boy in a dispute over fishing tackle worth a few dozen euros. The suspects, a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, are in custody and face murder charges.

A severe heatwave is sweeping across the continent, with temperature records falling in the United Kingdom, France, and Spain. In London, temperatures exceeded 34°C, marking the hottest May day ever recorded in the UK, as climate scientists link the event to global warming.

A nine-story hotel under construction in Angeles City collapsed, killing at least four and leaving 16 missing. The search operation ended after life-detecting equipment found no signs of life, and investigators cited unauthorized construction and safety violations.

France is confronting the worst institutional child abuse scandal in modern history, with investigations expanding to 114 schools and nurseries across Paris. Over 100 allegations of physical and sexual abuse involve children as young as three, with 78 staff suspended and 16 arrested.

The US Section 232 tariff on advanced semiconductors and a new BIS three-tier licensing system are fragmenting global semiconductor supply chains. China retaliated with export controls on gallium and a ban on Nvidia chips, accelerating domestic alternatives.

The WEF Global Risks Report 2026 ranks geoeconomic confrontation as the top risk for the first time, as US effective tariff rates surge to the highest since the 1940s and supply chains reconfigure through friendshoring and regional blocs.

The US dollar's share of global reserves fell below 57% as BRICS+ nations launch 'The Unit', a digital settlement instrument backed 40% by gold. Central banks purchased over 1,100 tonnes of gold in 2025, signaling a multipolar currency future.

European NATO allies have committed to a 3.5% GDP defense spending floor, with combined budgets reaching approximately €800 billion. The EU's €150 billion SAFE loan program enables joint procurement, but supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages threaten the buildup.

The EU's CBAM entered its definitive phase on January 1, 2026, requiring importers of steel, aluminium, cement, and other goods to purchase certificates tied to the EU ETS price. The policy has triggered retaliatory signals from trading partners and spurred similar measures worldwide.

Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta have collectively committed over 9.8 GW in nuclear power deals to meet surging AI energy demand, including the historic restart of Three Mile Island. The pivot to baseload nuclear marks a strategic shift from renewable-only strategies.

Global data center electricity consumption is projected to reach nearly 1,000 TWh by 2026, with grid interconnection timelines of 3-5 years unable to keep pace. Behind-the-meter natural gas plants and nuclear are emerging as fast-track solutions, but coal retirements are being delayed.

With fewer than five months until the EU AI Act's high-risk provisions take full effect on August 2, 2026, only 8 of 27 EU member states have designated the required national enforcement authorities. Non-compliant companies face penalties of up to 7% of global annual turnover.

The 2026 National Defense Strategy reorients American military posture toward homeland defense and China deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, while demanding NATO allies meet a 5% GDP defense spending benchmark and introducing deliberate ambiguity on Taiwan.